Cook chosen as new chamber leader

Jay County Chamber of Commerce has a new executive director.

Carey Cook was hired Tuesday to take over the position that has been vacant since Dean Sanders’ resignation at the end of June.

Cook, a Muncie resident, has spent the last five years as owner of Cook Media Group.

“He’s not from Jay County but very familiar with Jay County Commerce,” said Jay County Chamber of Commerce vice president Scott Manwaring. “He’s very outgoing, very anxious to work with economic development, tourism and the local governments throughout the county to further Jay County chamber’s mission.”

In June, Adam Homan, Steve Zielinski and Manwaring were selected by the chamber board as the hiring committee to bring in a new executive director, Manwaring said Wednesday. Sanders, who had been on the job since December 2013, left the position June 30 after announcing his departure about a month earlier.

Cook will begin in his new position Monday.

“Although I’m in Delaware County, I’ve done work over the years in Jay County,” said Cook. “I think Jay County has a lot of potential that they’re not realizing right now. I think I’ll be able to come in and hopefully get some other business from surrounding counties to maybe look at Jay County.”

A Yorktown High School graduate, Cook started his career in 1992 working in sales and management with Cellular One/Bell South and as a brand central manager for Sears. He became community relations director for Williamsburg Village/Beverly Healthcare in 2005, and then worked in sales for Fusework Studios from 2009 through 2014 before starting his own business. 

Discussing his goals, Cook expressed a desire to help develop businesses designed to draw outsiders to the area.

“Right now in Jay County there are no places where you say, ‘I want to go to Jay County for this reason,’” he said, referencing Cammack Station in Yorktown and Ivanhoe’s in Upland as examples of destination businesses. “I feel like that’s where there’s some opportunity. … I just feel like it has that potential to be that kind of place.”

The hiring committee worked with Cook to set up an initial action plan for his first months in office, with the focus on leading upcoming events Jay County Spotlight, Taste of Jay County and Winterfest.

He will also be hiring a new executive assistant. Intern Brooke Sanders, Dean’s daughter, has been filling that role this summer.

Beyond those duties, Cook said he is looking forward to starting and meeting with local business leaders.

“I really want to get to know the chamber members,” he said. “I’d like to get one or two ideas from the existing members.”